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You may have heard of the genus of repeated evergreens calledAlocasia(a - loh - KAY - see - uh ) or elephant ears .
These penis of theAraceaefamily are constantly lucubrate , with more than 80 + have it off metal money and countlessAlocasia mixed bag and cultivar .
Alocasia Regal Shield growing as a landscape groundcover (Kennedy Space Center)
Alocasia Regal Shieldis one of those hybrid , making its full nameAlocasia odoraXAlocasia reginula .
It ’s truly a works of the earth , with the first parent coming from Southeastern Asia and Orient , the 2d from Borneo , the cultivar itself being developed in Florida , and currently weigh a indigen to Africa by many enthusiast .
Sometimes touch to by Alocasia ’s common sobriquet of elephant ear and sometimes just call regal carapace , Alocasia ‘ Regal Shield ’ makes for a beautiful houseplant and search equally great in the garden .
Alocasia Regal Shield growing as a landscape groundcover (Kennedy Space Center)
Alocasia’ Regal Shield’ Care
Size & Growth
majestic buckler is an incredibly fast cultivator in the right precondition , achieving its adult size of 5′ feet magniloquent in as little as two age .
Some raiser have even been able-bodied to coax this flora to a stature of 9′ foot , although this is fairly rare .
It bears the trademark elephant’s ear leaves on numerous stalk - like stems , each measuring from 8″ to 20″ inches farseeing and gestate a deep blackish - greenish color .
The plant rifle torpid during the winter , at which time it ’s normal to see a touch of foliage drop .
Flowering and Fragrance
As with other alocasia , royal shield ’s prime are easily overlooked .
They ’re small and snowy on a tall green , faint yellow , or lily-white spadix and sometimes disappear beneath the foliage .
Regal Shield Plant Light and Temperature
Bright , indirect visible radiation is ideal for this plant , and it will turn towards the calorie-free source , so you will want to rotate the container occasionally .
outside , mottled sunlight crop well , as does morning photograph and good afternoon shadiness .
Be careful not to bequeath your regal shield in direct sunshine , as the leaves can become char as a resultant role .
alike , too much specter will have a major impact on the flora ’s health over time .
Your Alocasia will love you if you ensure it gets 60 % – 80 % pct humidity .
This can be accomplish by grouping it with other plants , placing it in a room with a humidifier , or putting a pebble tray under it .
The kitchen and privy have higher humidity , take in them both good option for your Alocasia ’s fresh household .
Be warn . It can be grave for your regal shield if the humidity spend below 40 % percent .
go on the humidity in mind , you’re able to spring up your elephant ear outdoors in USDA hardiness zone 9 to 12 .
Indoors , aim for a temperature range of 65 ° to 86 ° degrees Fahrenheit , with 68 ° to 77 ° degrees Fahrenheit being ideal .
Nighttime temperatures can drop to 60 ° arcdegree Fahrenheit , but anything below this can direct to dormancy and leafage drib .
Watering and Feeding
The soak - and - dry method is ideal for all Alocasias and will help thin the peril of root rot or other health government issue .
Using the finger test , check to see how far down the soil has dried .
Once it ’s juiceless 1″ column inch down , it ’s prison term to water .
Using rainwater or distil water , ( avoid tap water ) easy and evenly pour around the inside of the container until water get down to seep from the drain golf hole .
Cut back on watering during the dormant stop .
Meanwhile , Regal Shield has also inherit the appetite of other alocasia and will need regular fertilizing during the develop season .
Go with a balanced pattern liquid fertiliser diluted to ⅓ strength and fertilize your plant life monthly .
Cut back if the plant begins to develop too fast , and stop feed mid - fall .
Soil and Transplanting
Being the heavy feeder , your elephant auricle will postulate ample , loamy well - draining dirt .
Aim for an acidic soil pH of 5.5 to 7.0 .
Add in some conglomeration such as perlite to aid keep the grime from compacting , but void excessively hard or sandy soil types .
A good homemade formula is 25 % percentage each of fir bark and perlite , 30 % per centum coco coir , and 10 % percentage each of worm castings and horticultural oil .
Alternatively , you may look for a so - called “ hobo camp mixture ” and amend with a bit of perlite as necessary .
The fast growth of this industrial plant and its heavy eating habit mean you will be repot with fresh pot dirt every 2 years , sooner in the spring .
If the plant life is becoming source - confine , you will need a pot 2″ in wider .
apply this sentence to vary out the soil completely , discarding the worn-out soil .
Grooming and Maintenance
While not necessary , your Alocasia will benefit from periodic pruning in former wintertime to other spring .
Focus on damaged or diseased leaves using uninspired shear
Depending on the amount of rubble in the air , you will demand to use a leaf shine to clean the leaf weekly to monthly .
How To Propagate Elephant Ear?
The primarypropagation method for Alocasiais through partitioning , and more adventuresome agriculturalist can spread the plantlets in water .
Alocasia ’ Regal Shield ’ is also know to create offshoots from the mother plant life , which may be separate and naturalize .
Regal Shield Pests or Diseases
Regal Shield is extremely sore to cold and has zero tolerance for Robert Frost or drafts .
However , they are somewhat high temperature - tolerant , drouth - patient of , and highly wind resistant .
Aphids are the most common pest , but mealybugs , scale , wanderer tinge , and thrips also overrun alocasia .
ancestor decomposition is a major threat , and an plague can guide to powdery mildew or jet mold .
Other vernacular diseases Regal Shield may suffer from are :
As with all aroids , the works contains calcium oxalate crystal , considered toxic to both man and pests .
Accidental consumption may irritate the mouth , indigestion , or even kidney stones .
Alocasia ‘Regal Shield’ Uses
Your imperial shield is an air purifier , making it perfect for rooms that get a lot of traffic .
Outside , it work great for edging , a earth cover , and as accents for water features .
The stalks , when properly develop , are a pop stir - fry herbaceous plant in Vietnamese preparation .
